Chemical distributing machine



Feb. 2, 1965 T. CARRlGAN 3,168,238

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E Q I I I 0 0 m L :1

w .s$aa"-' 8 l ("MIN 1 M II 3 g 1 1;

m m M N N? 4 q ll I N I INVENTOR TRACY OARRIGAN ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 T. CARRIGAN 3,163,238

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TII3 2 6 29 INVENTOR TRACY GARRIGAN ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 Filed Oct. 19, 1962 T. CARRIGAN 3,168,238

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR TRACY CARRIGAN ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 T. CARRIGAN 3,168,238

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed on. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EHH 1U INVENTOR TRACY OARRIGAN BY 45 Afrrhwa/ZJ ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,168,238 CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Tracy Carrigan, Lansing, Mich., assignor to EMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,811 9 Claims. (Cl. 230-274) The present invention pertains to spraying and dusting machines and relates more particularly to adjustable deflectors for controlling the distribution of chemical laden air from such machines.

Heretofore, deflecting vanes for controlling the distribution of air from a sprayer have usually been of rigid construction and each vane has been pivoted at one end so that the other end could be moved in an arcuate path to any one of a number of optional positions and there fastened. The use of rigid vanes of this type has been found to create undue turbulence when the vanes are swung to certain positions wherein the angle between the direction of movement of the incoming air and the plane of the deflecting face of the vane is excessive.

' In accordance with the present invention this situation is corrected by providing flexible deflectors which may be curved as desired so that the above referred to angle of attack is never excessive and accordingly turbulence is minimized.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a plurality of cooperating flexible deflectors for a spraying machine arranged to be selectively positioned in a plurality of different curved deflecting positions to deflect air with a minimum of turbulence.

Another object is to provide an improved connector for securing the movable end of a flexible deflector in any one of an unlimited number of positions.

Another object is to provide an improved flexible deflector capable of being placed into a plurality of curved deflecting positions in each of which positions the air flow past the deflector conforms to the laws of streamlined air flow.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an air blast spraying machine incorporating the deflectors of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, vertical axial section taken along lines 22 of FIGURE 1 and showing the discharge section of the spraying machine with the flexible deflectors therein.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing the air passages leading into the discharge section.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective showing the flexible deflectors in one operating position, viewed as indicated by the arrows 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 4 showing a connector on the free end of one of the flexible deflectors.

FIGURES 6-10 are operational views showing the flexible deflectors in several different operating positions.

The flexible deflectors (FIG. 4) of the present invention are referred to collectively herein as the deflectors 10. They are shown in the drawings in connection with a pesticide spraying machine 11 (FIG. 1) which comprises a frame 12 mounted on rubber tired wheels (only one of which is shown) and having a tongue 14 at its forward end by which the machine can be hitched to a tractor (not shown) to be drawn thereby between rows of plants, such as trees in an orchard.

An internal combustion engine 16, indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, is mounted in an compartment 17 I 3,168,238 h Patented Feh; a,- less at the forward end of the spr ayifig machine 11. A screened door 18 is provided in the curved wall of the engine compartment to admit cooling and combustion air to the engine and to allow for easy access thereto. A liquid pesticide supply tank 19 is mounted on the frame 12 behind the compartment 17. The tank is provided with an open ended tube 20 (FIG. 2) extending longitudinally therethrough to house a shaft 21 (FIG. 1) which is connected by flexible couplings (not shown) between the drive shaft 22 of the engine 16 and the shaft 23 of an air blast creating, shaping and discharging mechanism 24 supported on the rear of the frame 12.

The air blast mechanism 24 is similar to that shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,476,960 for a Spraying and Dusting Machine, granted to E. W. Daugherty on July 26, 1949. The mechanism 24 comprises an axial flow propeller 26 (FIG. 1) rigidly mounted on the shaft 23 at the open rear end of a hollow cylindrical housing 27. Rotation of the propeller 26 generates a longitudinal, forwardly moving air blast within the housing 27, which is deflected radially thereof by a nested series of stationary frusto-conical deflectors 28a, 28b and 28c (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) mounted at the forward end of the housing 27. The air blast is ejected from a discharge section 29 either in a sector shaped pattern directed upward and outward from one side of the machine 11 or in two such patterns directed upward and outward from both sides of the spraying machine 11.

Liquid pesticide is fed to the sector shaped air blast in any suitable manner, for example, by upwardly and outwardly directed spray nozzles 31 (FIG. 1) provided in longitudinal pipes 32 that are arranged along the circumference of the discharge section 29. The pipes 32 are spaced equal angular distances apart and extend rearwardly over the discharge section 29 from an arched header pipe or manifold 33 mounted on the rear portion of the tank 19. Pesticidal liquid from the tank 19 is supplied under pressure to the header pipe 33 and to the nozzles 31 by a liquid pump 34 and a flexible hose 36. In the present embodiment, the pump 34 is driven by the engine 16 through a V-belt and pulley drive 37 operatively connecting the engine drive shaft 22 with the pump shaft 38. As the pesticidal liquid is forced from the spray nozzles 31 it is broken into a great number of extremely small particles which immediately become entrained in the air blast whereby there is formed a voluminous, sector shaped, pesticidal fog suitable for application to most types of trees.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the discharge section 29 comprises the generally frusto-conical deflectors 28a, 28b and 28c and an end plate 41 having a rearwardly curved air deflector 42 at the lower part thereof. The end plate '41 is rigidly connected, as by welding, to vertically extending members 43 (one shown in FIGURE 2) of the frame 12. The three generally frustoconical deflectors 28a, 28b and 28c are held in spaced relation from each other and from the end plate 41 by circumferentially spaced tie bars 44. Each tie bar comprises a bolt 46 which extends through an annular rim 47 of the housing 27, through spacers 48, through the deflectors 28a, 28b and 280, and through the end plate 41 to clamp these parts firmly in position.

The deflector 280 includes a vertically extending back plate 49 which is in the form of a disc with a truncated V-shaped notch, or opening 51 (FIG. '3) in the lower part thereof. A baflle 53 is connected to the back plate 49 and 'to the lower edges of the generally frusto-conical deflectors 28a, 28b and'28c at the edges of the opening 51 and cooperates with the deflector 42 of the end plate 41 and with arcuate side plates 55a and 55b secured to the housing 29, to define a tunnel 56 of truncated V- shaped cross section. Airreceived from the lower por- (FIGS. 1 and 2") are adjustably mounted over the discharge section 2 9 above the longitudinal axis thereof for exercising further contifol over the air entrained pesticide which is ejected from the discharge section 2-9 Each of the vansSSfand includes a tubulanhub 61 which is rotatable on a bolt Both bolts 62 are secured to and extend between two angle brackets 63 and 64. A compression spring 66 is mounted on each bolt and is engaged between the bracket and one edge of the associated: hub and exerts suflicient force to 1 a hold the associated vane in adju's ted position ageins't' the blast of air being discharged upward from the discharge section 29. lt will be understood that the" positions of the vanes 58 and 59 may be individually changed overcoming the frictional liocking force exerted by the respective compression spring 66, thus to place the vanes in optimum position for most effective spraying of the particular plants to be treated.

The flxile flec ors 1t] of the present invention are mounted in the passage 57 defined by the end plate 41 and the back platev49, to eputrol the, direction of flow of air issuing therefrom. Three of the flexible deflectors 10 are employed, these being individually indicated at 10a, 10b, and 100, respectively. J As illustrated in FIG- URES 4 to 10, each deflector 10 10b, and 10a is sub-' ject to individualadjustrnent, not only to, alter its position, i.e., the direction in which it extends, but also to alter its degree of curvature,- thus to attain the most efficiently stneamlined air flow as well'as to exercise con:

trol over the direction In? which the jet of air is directed from the discharge section 2 9. H y

In order to make thedeflectors 10' subject tofvariation of their curvature eaeh at them is made; of thin, resilie'ntly flexible sheet material, such as sheet; plastic or spring steel. A light gauge stainless" steel has been found particularly advantageous'for this use, due to the fact that thiismateri a.l is highly resistant to the corrosive action of spray chemicals. 7 v,

The deflecter lga i s connected adjacent its midpoint t t b 19 3iand 4) y s rews 69. The deflectors and 100 havesleeyes70'. and 71; -respecit ivee ly, welded thereon and pivoted on shouldered bolts. 72

which are rigidly mounted on' and project fronrthe end- In order to :fasten the: free end or ends of each deflec tor in'adju'sted' position, a resilient'cdnnector' 73 is se= cured to each of said free ends. Each connector 73 (FIG; 5 comprises a sleeve 74' Which is welded to a tongue 76 that is rigidly secured to associated free end of a deflector: A ,cornpression'spfirrg 77 tli sleeve 74 engages smalldiamete'r' poftions 78 of friction shoes 79. 'The small diameter portions- 78 of the shoes 79 are slidab'lyfreceived in opposite ends of the slecve 74. The spring 77 of each connector 73 is' of' sufficient strength to urge the end faces of large diameter portions I 81 of the shoes outward against thep'lates 41 and 49 with enough force to resist the forces exerted against the associated, deflector by the blast of air impurging thereagainst, thus to retain the free end of the associated flexible deflector in selected position until such time that he deflector is intentionally readjusted. FIGURES 6 10 illustrate five operating positions of the flexible deflectors 10a, 10b and. 10?: and the vanes 58 and 59 which cooperate with each other tocontrol the direction'in which the air is ejected from the discharge sectio'n 29. In FIGURE 6, the flexible deflectors 10a, 10b, and 10c and the vanes 58 and 59 are .fastened in selected position of arc'uate adjustment about their inner ends so as te direct all the 'air emitted from the discharge section 29 outward and upward. from one side of the spraying machine 11. With the vanes and flexible deflectors set in this manner, a blast of air is directed outward and steeply upward to treat relatively tall trees. Due to the fact that the deflectors 10 are flexible each can be fastened withits outer end at selected radial distance ffom its inner end, thus to attain and retain the optimum degree of curvature of the deflector which increases to the greatest practical value the angle of incidence between any part of the deflector and the direction of movement of the particular part of the air blast which impinges against that part of the deflector. In'this manner, the deflectors are enabled to control the direction inwhichthe air blast is dischargcdiand yet to minimize the turbulence created in the flow of air as it e and past the surfaces of the deflectors, so that the flew of discharged air is not only at.- high velocity, but also is smooth, or streamlined, with the result that the spray pattern is bettei able to penetrate heavily foliated trees or other plants. A removable bafli is clamped on the other side of the spraying machine 1 1 to close the discharge housing on this side of the machine.-

The vane and flexible deflector positions shown FIGURE Tare somewhat similar to'those shown in FIG- URE 6 in that all the air is discharged from one side of the machine 11. It will be noted that the balfle 83 still closes the discharge passagesof the section 29 on the other side of the machine. In FIGURE 7 thefree ends of the flexible deflectors I041 and 10c are heldin lower positions than in FIGURE 6 for causing the. air flowing thercp'ast to be directed upward and laterally, but at a lower elevation. The vane 59 is also positioned so that its free end is lower than shown in FIGURE 6. Thus, the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7 is adapted to direct a streamlinedflow of air at relatively short trees.

In FIGURE 8 the flexible deflectors 10a, 10b and and the vanes 58 and 59 are arranged to deflect air upward and outward from both sides of the discharge section 29" to treat relatively tall trees as thesprayingun'a chine 11 is drawn between two rowsthereof. The vane' and deflector positions shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 are similar to those shown in FIGURE 8 in that the air is directed from both sides o f the spraying machine 11."

The arrangement shown in FIGURE. 9 is best suited for directing a streamlined new of air at medium sized trees, while the arrangement shown in FIGURE 10 is suited for directing air at short trees or other plants such as bushes or vines;

It willbe understood th'at the baflle 83 may be removed from the left side of the discharge hou ing 29" in FIG URES 6 and 7, and such a baflle may be mounted on the right side of the housing if it is desired to spray plants only on the left side of the machine. j

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the flexible deflectors of the present invention may have their free ends in any of an infinite number of positions.

and may be bent so that the a ir flowing therepast will flow in a streamlined manner with little turbulence, thus to attain efiicient application of pesticide; to the plants being treated. Moreover, external vanes 58 and 59 can be pivoted to diflerent positions so as to cooperate with the flexible deflectors 10 to better control the angle at which the air is discharged from the spraying machine.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that varidiis changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.-- I n 7 Having thus described. the present inventionand the manner in which the same is to be used, what is claimed as newandi' desired to be protected by Letters Patent is: 1. In alchemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating 'an air blast, means for di IHOVBS over j recting the air blast through a passage defined by spaced apart walls having a curved periphery generated about a central axis, a flexible deflector, means for anchoring one end of said deflector at a predetermined location in said passage and immediately adjacent said axis, and means for selectively securing the other end of said flexible deflector in any one of a plurality of positions in said passage adjacent the outer periphery thereof and for retaining the deflector in selected degree of curvature for deflecting air out of said passage in selected direction and for minimizing turbulence in the flow of the deflected air.

2. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through a passage defined by spaced apart walls, a resiliently flexible deflector, means for anchoring one end of said deflector at a certain location in said passage, and a connector secured to the other end of said flexible deflector, said connector including movable wall engaging means and resilient means urging said wall engaging means outwardly into frictional engagement with said walls for releasably clamping said other end between said Walls to retain said other end of said flexible deflector in selected position in said passage and for retaining the deflector in selected curvature for deflecting air at a selected angle and for streamlining the flow of the deflected air.

3. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through a passage defined by parallel walls, a flexible deflector, means for anchoring one end of said deflector at a predetermined location in said passage, a sleeve secured to the other end of the flexible deflector, a friction shoe slidable in each end of said sleeve, and resilient means in said sleeve urging said friction shoes into gripping engagement with said parallel walls to secure said other end of said flexible deflector in said passage a selected radial distance from said predetermined location to retain the deflector in a selected curved shape to minimize turbulence created in the air flowing over the surface of the deflector.

4. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through a passage defined by spaced apart walls having a curved outer periphery generated about a central axis, a plurality of flexible deflectors in said passage, means for anchoring one part of each deflector at a predetermined location in said passage at an elevation even with or below said axis, and means for securing another part of each of said flexible deflectors in predetermined position in said passage so as to define flow passages between the deflectors through which a streamlined flow of air is guided in a selected direction, said other part of at least one of said deflectors being secured adjacent said curved outer periphery of said walls.

5. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through a passage defined by spaced apart walls, anchoring means extending transversely of said passage, an elongate deflector secured intermediate its ends to said anchoring means, and means for fastening each end of said deflector in said passage in a selected radial direction and at a selected radial distance from said anchoring means so as to direct the air out of said passage in a selected direction and to hold the deflector in selected curved form for causing the deflected air to flow in a streamlined pattern, each of said fastening means being secured to and movable with the associated end of said deflector and being movable between a position spaced from the deflector portion near the other fastening means and a position contacting said deflector portion.

6. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through a passage defined by spaced apart walls, a pair of vanes adjustably mounted externally of said passage, means for releasably retaining said vanes in selected positions, anchoring means extending transversely of said passage, an elongate flexible deflector in said passage secured intermediate its ends to said anchoring means, and means for fastening each end of said flexible deflector between said walls in a selected direction from said anchoring means and at a selected radial distance from said anchoring means to cooperate with said vanes in directing air in a selected direction out of said passage and to control the curvature of the associated end of the deflector for causing the deflected air to flow in a streamlined pattern.

7. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast upward through a passage defined by spaced apart walls, anchoring means rigid with one of said Walls and projecting therefrom transversely of said passage, a flexible deflector within said passage secured intermediate its ends to said anchoring means, a pair of auxiliary flexible deflectors within said passage, means anchoring one end of each of said auxiliary deflectors to one of said walls below and laterally of said anchoring means, and releasable means carried by said deflectors for adjustably clamping them in positions extending in selected radial directions from their respective anchoring means and in selected degree of longitudinal curvature whereby the deflectors are enabled to direct a streamlined flow of air from the machine in a selected direction.

8. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of spaced apart walls defining therebetween a transverse air passage, means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast through said passage and laterally from both sides of said machine comprising a pair of vanes pivotally mounted on said housing externally of said passages for selective adjustment into one of a plurality of deflecting positions, means for releasably retaining said vanes in selected positions for deflecting air discharged from said passage in selected directions, anchoring means rigidly mounted in said passage, a flexible deflector secured intermediate its ends to said anchoring means, and means for securing the ends of said deflector in positions selectively spaced apart to cooperate with said vanes in determining direction of the air blast to both sides of the machine and at selected radial distances from said anchoring means to maintain said deflector in selected degree of curvature to control creation of turbulence in the deflected air.

9. In a chemical distributing machine, the combination of spaced apart walls defining a transverse air passage opening both upward and laterally of the machine, means for creating an air blast, means for directing the air blast upward within said passage, anchoring means rigid with one of said walls and extending transversely of said passage, an elongate flexible deflector in said passage secured intermediate its ends to said anchoring means, a pair of auxiliary flexible deflectors in said passage, means anchoring one end of each of said auxiliary deflectors in said passage below and laterally of the anchoring means for said elongate deflector, means secured to each of said deflectors for clamping it in a selected radial direction and at a selected radial distance from its associated anchoring means whereby said deflectors are curved so as to present streamlined deflecting surfaces to the air blast.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,250 Alfreds Apr. 9, 1929 1,725,353 Hinrich Aug. 20, 1929 1,793,295 Werme Feb. 17, 1931 2,315,154 Fenner Mar. 30, 1943 2,676,057 Daugherty Apr. 20, 1954 

1. IN A CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR CREATING AN AIR BLAST, MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE AIR BLAST THROUGH A PASSAGE DEFINED BY SPACED APART WALLS HAVING A CURVED PERIPHERY GENERATED ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS, A FLEXIBLE DEFLECTOR, MEANS FOR ANCHORING ONE END OF SAID DEFLECTOR AT A PREDETERMINED LOCATION IN SAID PASSAGE AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID AXIS, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SECURING THE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE DEFLECTOR IN ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS IN SAID PASSAGE ADJACENT THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF AND FOR RETAINING THE DEFLECTOR IN SELECTED DEGREE OF CURVATURE FOR DEFLECTING AIR OUT OF SAID PASSAGE IN SELECTED DIRECTION AND FOR MINIMIZING TURBULENCE IN THE FLOW OF THE DEFLECTED AIR. 